Marine forecast
Southern Chatham Strait, AK
- current wind
- 7 kt N
- Gusts
- 14 kt
- Air
- 45°F
- 72-hr peak
- 19 kt
- Peak seas
- 9 ft
Observed Tue 10:54 AM | PKZ033
- Gusts now
- 14 kt
- Air
- 45°F
- 72-hr peak
- 19 kt
- Peak seas
- 9 ft
In brief
At 10:54 am AKDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station PLXA2 (Port Alexander, AK, 19 miles away) measured wind from the N at 7 kt, gusting to 14 kt. The NWS forecast for Southern Chatham Strait, AK issued at 3:42 am AKDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “Light winds becoming N 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 ft or less, except 5 ft near ocean entrances.” A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until Thu 7:00 PM.
Source: National Weather Service Juneau AK forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 19 kt
Seas forecast · ftPeak 9 ft
Marine advisory
Small Craft Advisory in effect for Southern Chatham Strait until Thu 7:00 PM.
Full text of this small craft advisory
* WHAT...Southeast winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 45 kt and seas 10 to 15 ft expected. * WHERE...Cross Sound and Southern Chatham Strait. * WHEN...From 4 AM to 7 PM AKDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Today | Light winds becoming N 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 ft or less, except 5 ft near ocean entrances. Patchy fog early in the morning. |
| Tonight | Light winds. Seas 2 ft or less, except 5 ft near ocean entrances. |
| Wed | Light winds. Seas 2 ft or less, except 5 ft near ocean entrances. |
| Wed Night | E wind 25 kt. Seas 5 ft, except 9 ft near ocean entrances. Rain. |
| Thu | SE wind 25 kt. Seas 8 ft. |
| Fri | SE wind 15 kt. Seas 6 ft. |
| Sat | S wind 15 kt. Seas 5 ft. |
Issued Tue 3:42 AM by Juneau AK (product CWFAJK).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 10:54 AM | 7 kt N | 14 kt | — | — |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 7 kt N | 12 kt | — | — |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 6 kt N | 10 kt | — | — |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 9 kt N | 15 kt | — | — |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 8 kt N | 12 kt | — | — |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 5 kt N | 11 kt | — | — |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 6 kt N | 8 kt | — | — |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 7 kt N | 10 kt | — | — |
| Tue 2:54 AM | 7 kt N | 10 kt | — | — |
| Tue 1:54 AM | 3 kt N | 8 kt | — | — |
| Tue 12:54 AM | 2 kt WNW | 4 kt | — | — |
| Mon 11:54 PM | 1 kt N | 5 kt | — | — |
Observed Tue 10:54 AM at NDBC buoy PLXA2 (Port Alexander, AK), 19.1 miles away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Southern Chatham Strait today?
Today: Light winds becoming N 10 kt in the afternoon. Seas 2 ft or less, except 5 ft near ocean entrances. Patchy fog early in the morning.
Is there a small craft advisory for Southern Chatham Strait?
Yes — small craft advisory in effect until Thu 7:00 PM.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone PKZ033, issued by Juneau AK, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFAJK, issued Tue 3:42 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station PLXA2, read Tue 10:54 AM. Retrieved Oct 13, 11:42 AM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.